HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc57-60W
Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the television, newspaper and radio advertising and other promotional campaigns conducted by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its departmental public bodies, in each of the past five years, showing for each the expenditure incurred by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [153423]

Ms Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 12 March> 2001]: I have set out information as (a) DETR (Central), (b) Agencies and (c) Public Bodies.

(a) DETR(C)

My Department runs several public information campaigns each year using the most appropriate combination of television, radio and newspaper advertising, supported by other promotional material such as leaflets and posters. These campaigns mainly relate to environmental protection and road safety.

For details of expenditure by medium over each of the past five years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for. Bath (Mr. Foster) on 15 February 2001, Official Report, columns 222–23W.

For details of expenditure by subject over each of the past five years, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 20 December 2000, Official Report, columns 168–69W.

Latest figures showing advertising expenditure for each of the campaigns covered in the reply to the hon. Member for Hertsmere are set out.

£
Campaign Cost
2000–01
Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry 44,143
Quality Mark Scheme1 41,633
Rough Sleepers Change a Life Campaign 433,338
6 Sheet Poster Site 19,861
Road Safety Campaign 7,661,188
Child Road Safety 734,991
Are You Doing Your Bit? 5,587,672
Thames Safety Enquiry 83,738
Council Board Appointments 36,147
Election for Mayor of London 651,554
DETR Herts CC Posters 1,500
Local Website Information 35,209
Total 15,330,974
1Please note that an incorrect figure of £85,185 was mistakenly given in the previous reply. We are writing to the hon. Member for Hertsmere to provide him with updated figures.

Increases in advertising expenditure in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 result from: Are You Doing Your Bit?" campaign to help people to take action to protect the environment Road Safety and Child Road Safety campaigns, aimed at further reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads Greater London Authority elections campaign to encourage voting. For details of publications and reports, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 19 December 2000, Official Report, columns 108–09W.

(b) DETR Agencies

Expenditure on paid publicity by DETR's agencies is set out.

£
Campaign Cost
Drivers Standard Agency
1996–97
Separate Driving Theory Test 36,817
1997–98 Nil
1998–99 Nil
1999–2000
Launch of touch-screen theory test 9,808
Go-Live date for touch-screen theory test 8,500
Shared DVO Group Stand at Motor Show 16,166
Total 34,474
2000–01
Launch of "What if" Video 6,908
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
1996–97
Sales of Vehicle Registration Marks 1,085,106
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) Enforcement 702,127
Total 1,787,233
1997–98
VED Enforcement/Wheelclamping 1,908,085
Sales of Vehicle Registration Marks 1,085,106
Photocard Driving Licences 5,395
Total 2,998,586
1998–99
VED Enforcement/Wheelclamping 2,292,022
Sales of Vehicle Registration Marks 1,085,106
Photocard Driving Licences 444,890
Statutory Off Road Notification 428,936
Graduated VED 122,553
Total 4,373,507
1999–2000
Sales of Vehicle Registration Marks 2,382,978
VED Enforcement/Wheelclamping 2,260,216
Graduated VED 419,574
Photocard Driving Licence 272,340
5,335,108

£
Campaign Cost
2000–01
VED Enforcement/Wheelclamping 2,231,587
Graduated VED 2,012,765
Sales of Vehicle Registration Marks 1,957,446
Statutory Off Road Notification 510,638
Photocard Driving Licence 486,808
Total 7,199,244

The increase in advertising and promotional expenditure for the DVLA is partly due to the introduction of the national wheelclamping scheme and the photocard licence campaign. This increased the number of Vehicle Excise Duty campaigns from 17 in 1996–97 to 27 in 2000–01. Highways Agency expenditure during the past two years is set out in the table. The Agency was unable to provide information relating to years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99.

£
Campaign Cost
Highways Agency
1999–2000
Consumer campaigns advising of road closures/changes 263,299
2000–01
Consumer campaigns advising of road closures/changes 127,149
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (established in April 1998)
1998–99
Sea Smart 78,986
Safe Fishing 19,195
Registry of Shipping and Seamen 11,143
Total 109,324
1999–2000
Sea Smart 25,216
Registry of Shipping and Seamen 6,766
Non-Regulated Pleasure Vessels Code 65,610
Safe Fishing 34,945
Total 132,537
2000–01
Receiver of Wreck Amnesty 62,538
Registry of Shipping and Seamen 820
Sea Smart 53,812
Flagging In 12,515
Total 129,685
Vehicle Inspectorate
1996–97
Advertising Training Courses 19,203
1997–98
Advertising Training Courses 53,853
1998–99
Advertising Training Courses 46,607
1999–2000
Advertising Training Courses 60,200
New telephone Number for Vehicle Inspectorate 9,480
Total 69,680
2000–01
Advertising Training Courses 44,732
New telephone number for Vehicle Inspectorate 5,515
Total 50,247
Planning Inspectorate
1996–97
Planning Inspectorate Campaign 6,084

The Rent Service, Vehicle Certification Agency and Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre have not carried out any significant communication activity during the period.

(c) NDPBs

DETR's Public Bodies are split into Executive and Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies. There are 55 in total (28 Executive and 27 Advisory Bodies). DETR(C) does not keep central records of Public Bodies' communications campaigns. The cost of tracing and listing each public body's advertising and promotional campaigns over the past five years could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.